STATUTORY RULES.
1914. No. 155.
PROVISIONAL REGULATION UNDER THE WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ACT 1905.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby certify that, on account of urgency, the undermentioned Regulation under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905 should come into immediate operation, and make the Regulation to come into operation forthwith as a Provisional Regulation.
Dated this 28th day of October, One thousand nine hundred and fourteen.
R. M. FERGUSON,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
W. G. SPENCE,
Postmaster-General.
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Amendment of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations, 1913.
(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 351.)
The Wireless Telegraphy Regulations, 1913, as amended by Statutory Rules 1914, No. 111, are amended by inserting, after Regulation 24a, the following Regulation:—
“Radiotelegrams addressed to New Caledonia.
“24b. (1) The Commonwealth charges for ordinary and for Naval and other Government radiotelegrams originating in the Commonwealth and addressed to Noumea, New Caledonia, shall be as follows:—
(a) Coast Station charge, 4d. per word;
(b) Land line charge, 1d. per word.
“(2) the charges for press radiotelegrams originating in the Commonwealth and addressed to New Caledonia shall be one half the charges prescribed for ordinary radiotelegrams in sub-regulation (1)”
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Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C. 14148.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Statutory Rules of 1914, No. 155, titled "Provisional Regulation under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905," was enacted to address an immediate need for amendments to the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations, 1913. This legislative instrument was introduced by the Governor-General in Council, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, due to the urgency of the matter. The primary objective of this regulation was to adjust the charges for radiotelegrams originating in the Commonwealth and addressed to Noumea, New Caledonia, ensuring that they align with the specified rates for both ordinary and press radiotelegrams. The regulation was intended to come into immediate operation, reflecting the pressing nature of the amendments required.
Scope and Application
The Provisional Regulation under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905 pertains to the amendment of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations, 1913, specifically concerning the charges for radiotelegrams originating in the Commonwealth and addressed to Noumea, New Caledonia. This regulation applies to ordinary, Naval, and other government radiotelegrams as well as press radiotelegrams. The regulation stipulates specific charges for these communications, distinguishing between different types of telegrams and setting forth the costs for both coast station and land line charges. The regulation is issued under the authority of the Governor-General in the Commonwealth of Australia and is effective as a Provisional Regulation, meaning it comes into immediate operation. The regulation's geographic reach is limited to communications addressed to New Caledonia, thereby extending the application of the Wireless Telegraphy Act to this particular territory. The regulation does not explicitly mention any exclusions or exemptions, but the charges are differentiated based on the type of telegram, indicating a structured approach to the application of fees. This regulation is one of several instruments that extend or modify the application of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, thereby providing a comprehensive framework for wireless telegraphy in the region.
Key Provisions
The Wireless Telegraphy Regulations, 1914, as enacted, primarily address the amendment of existing regulations concerning the charges for radiotelegrams sent to New Caledonia. Specifically, Regulation 24b introduces new provisions for the cost of transmitting radiotelegrams originating in the Commonwealth and addressed to Noumea, New Caledonia. According to Regulation 24b(1), the Commonwealth imposes a charge of 4 pence per word for ordinary and Naval and other Government radiotelegrams, in addition to a land line charge of 1 pence per word. For press radiotelegrams, the charge is half that of ordinary radiotelegrams, as stipulated in Regulation 24b(2). This regulation aims to establish clear financial parameters for different categories of telegrams directed to New Caledonia, ensuring a systematic approach to billing based on the type of telegram and the distance of transmission.
The Act imposes specific obligations on the Commonwealth and entities involved in the transmission of radiotelegrams. For instance, it mandates that the Commonwealth sets clear and differentiated charges for various types of radiotelegrams, which is evident in the new charges introduced for telegrams addressed to New Caledonia. Furthermore, the Act requires that these charges be consistently applied to all telegrams fitting within the specified categories, ensuring transparency and fairness in billing practices. The regulation also likely imposes an obligation on postal and telegraphic services to accurately calculate and collect these charges from the senders of the telegrams.
Breaches of these regulations may not be explicitly detailed within the text provided, but under general principles of statutory interpretation, any failure to comply with the specified charges or improper billing could potentially lead to legal consequences. In the context of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905, such breaches might result in civil penalties, including fines or demands for reimbursement of improperly collected or uncollected charges. Although the exact penalties are not detailed in the provided excerpt, they could be significant, reflecting the importance of adherence to regulatory standards in the administration of telegraphic services.